Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/47

 Everyone in Galvey loved Hung Long Tom. There were none who did not joy to pause and speak with him. They marvelled at his intellect, at his novel philosophies, at the vagrant bits of folklore he quoted.

Hung Long Tom smiled to himself at their amazement. Because he was a Chinaman they did not expect him to be educated. Few there were who knew that Chinese civilization is the oldest in the world. Once in a conversation with Ezra Lang who was a banker and the most influential citizen of Galvey he had said in reply to Mr. Lang's open comment upon his extraordinary culture, "Great inventors have the Chinese been, of gunpowder, banknotes and block-printing. They even discovered the compass. Such were the mighty gifts they gave unto the world. And now men speak of China's sad decline, that there is no longer advancement. The people spend their lives waiting patiently, entirely satisfied with their lowly lot. But I say my people have paused for the rest of Earth's passengers to come abreast In their very apathy is recorded their